Monarda plant named ‘Balbeemin’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Monarda  plant named ‘Balbeemin’, characterized by its medium reddish-purple colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, good powdery mildew resistance, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Monarda didyma.

Variety denomination: ‘Balbeemin’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Monardaplant botanically known as Monarda didyma and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balbeemin’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during the summer 2011. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Monarda cultivars that are medium height,early flowering, and have good powdery mildew resistance.

The new Monarda cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Monarda didymabreeding selection coded MNR-160, not patented, characterized by itsdark purple-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, andmoderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit. The male (pollen)parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was selected asa single flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedopen-pollination during August 2012 in a controlled environment inGuadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2012 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balbeemin’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Monarda plant:

-   -   1. Medium reddish-purple colored inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage;    -   3. Good powdery mildew resistance; and    -   4. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having medium reddish-purple colored inflorescences and ataller, upright growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Monarda cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Balmy Pink ‘Balbalmink’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 26,566. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Balbalmink’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have inflorescences that are a        darker reddish-purple color than plants of ‘Balbalmink’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers per        inflorescences than plants of ‘Balbalmink’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of        ‘Balbalmink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balbeemin’. Theplants were approximately 5.5 months old. The plants were grown threeplants per pot in 1.7 gallon containers for approximately 3 months in anoutdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinchesprior to transplant and one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balbeemin’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balbeemin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in August 2021 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately5.5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown three plants per pot in 1.7 gallon containers forapproximately 3 months in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill.Plants were given two pinches prior to transplant and one pinch one weekafter transplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in apoly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperaturesranged from an average high of 79.5° F. (26.4° C.) to an average low of68.5° F. (20.3° C.), and supplemental lighting was provided daily forfive hours during short days. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant.

-   Botanical classification: Monarda didyma ‘Balbeemin’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Monarda didyma breeding selection            coded MNR-160, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 35 to 42            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 9 to 11 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4 (−30° F. to −20° F./−34.4° C. to            −28.9° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 36.0 cm. Width: Approximately 34.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 4.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 32.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            on edges. Color of young stems: 146C. Color of mature stems:            146B tinted with 187A, becoming woody 200B with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Primarily perpendicular to stem. Shape:            Ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Shallowly cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 6.2 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 3.2 cm. Texture of upper surface: Slightly            rugose, moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface:            Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of young foliage:            Closest to 137A with venation of 146B tinted with 187D at            base of midvein. Color of lower surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of 146D. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with            venation of 146B and midvein tinted with 187D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:            146D tinted with 187D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balbeemin’ is a long-day obligate,            vernalization is not required for flowering, freely            flowering under outdoor growing conditions blooming late            spring through summer.        -   Lastingness of individual flower.—Approximately 5 to 7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Dense terminal verticillasters,            not persistent, facing upward and outward. Quantity of            inflorescences per plant: Approximately 7. Fragrance:            Strong, sage-like. Depth or height of inflorescence:            Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately            5.5 cm, expands to approximately 7.0 cm as innermost flowers            senesce. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 25.        -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent            on edges. Color: 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Single, bilabiate.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Tubular, upper portion            strongly recurved. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:            NN78C.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Two lips, upper lip hooded; lower lip, a            single lobe; lips fused. Depth (height): Approximately            3.8 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length: Approximately            1.4 cm.        -   Upper lip.—Shape: Linear, hooded. Aspect: Erect. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Two acute tips. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm.            Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface:            Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color            of inner surface when first and fully open: NN74D. Color of            outer surface when first and fully open: N74B.        -   Lower lip.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Curled            lobe at apex about 4.0 mm in length and 1.0 mm in width.            Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface when            first and fully open: NN74D. Color of lower surface when            first and fully open: N74D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color: NN74B to            NN74C.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused except for acuminate            apex of 1.0 mm in length having an entire margin. Length:            Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of            inner surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of outer surface:            Densely pubescent. Color of inner surface: 145C with tips of            187A, 155C at base. Color of outer surface: 145B with tips            and an overlay near apex of 187A, 155C at base.        -   Bracts.—Quantity: Approximately 27 per inflorescence in            multiple whorls. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Length of            larger: Approximately 5.0 cm. Width of larger: Approximately            3.0 cm. Length of smaller: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width of            smaller: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of            larger bracts: Closest to 137A with an overlay of 187D on            midvein. Color of lower surface of larger bracts: 137C.            Color of upper and lower surfaces of smaller bracts: 145D            with a heavy overlay of 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per            flower, dorsifixed. Filament length: Approximately 3.1 cm.            Filament length of fixed portion: Approximately 2.1 cm.            Filament color: NN155D, opaque. Anther shape: Narrowly            elliptic to oblong. Anther length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Anther color: 158D with N78A, quickly turning N199B. Pollen            amount: Sparse. Pollen color: NN155D. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 3.8 cm.            Stigma shape: Cleft, two-parted. Stigma length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 90C. Style length:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Style color: NN155D, opaque with a            faint overlay of 90C near stigma. Ovary length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 158D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Good resistance to powdery mildew has    been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plantnamed ‘Balbeemin’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.